Is running good for health?

New York: As New York limbers up to host the world’s biggest marathon on Sunday, runners around the world will be picturing its storied finish line to push for that extra kilometre (mile).

But is running actually good for your health? Yes, say experts, as long as you are careful.

Runners are 30 per cent less likely to have a premature death and 45 per cent less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than non-runners, according to a US study published March in the journal Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases.

They can even expect to live for three years longer, the study found. And these benefits appear to exceed that of all other physical activities.

“Running may be the most cost-effective lifestyle medicine from a public health perspective,” the study’s authors said.

The research analysed the data of 55,000 men and women aged 18 to 100 from a 2014 study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

“Running has many benefits. It is good for the entire cardiovascular system, from the heart to blood vessels,” sports cardiologist Stephane Cade said.

Running also has a positive effect on your mind.

“It helps your mental health by producing hormones, endorphins, which give you a feeling of wellbeing,” said Julien Schipman, a sports health specialist at France’s Institute of Sport and Performance.

So running can be very good for your health, but you need to take precautions.

“Someone who has never done it before should see a doctor for a check-up,” said Schipman.